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Nine-alarm fire ravages Roxbury warehouse complex

A fire that broke out shortly before 10:30 p.m. in an apparently empty warehouse complex at 31 Norfolk Ave. went to nine alarms in just a few minutes. Firefighters were ordered out of and away from the building only a few minutes before it began to collapse around 10:35.

The Boston Fire Department reports more than 160 firefighters - more than half the city's available firefighters - are at the blaze, in a complex that ranged from one to seven stories. That's roughly 21 engines, 7 ladder trucks, a rescue truck and three tower ladder trucks, in addition to several special units. Firefighters will be on scene all night pouring water onto the remains of the building.

Smoke from the fire rapidly enveloped the area. John Pouliot tweeted a huge plume of smoke, changing from black to gray, covered Columbus and Tremont; Alex MacDonald tweeted the smoke was visible from I-93 in Somerville.

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Fire has spread to the corner of Norfolk and Gerard Streets into a garbage facility. Streets are blocked off and large plumes of smoke- as well as cinders- are visible from Chesterton St/Mass Ave, across from the fire department HQ.

I stopped by the scene --one city block of brick warehouse-- and things were pretty much under control by midnight. Some of the walls had collapsed onto the fire, essentially helping to extingusih it, not to minimize the great work of the the BFD. Smoke was still heavy and visible all over the city and surrounding climes.

In a bit of comic relief, Mayor Menino showed up with Police Commissioner Davis and other bodyguards, and Menino immediately gets a Poland Springs water bottle from a stash intended for the thirsty, exhausted firefighters. Priceless. The merciless crowd was joking about what Menino might be saying to ch. 5's Kimberly Bookman (stunning in person) as she interviewed him. "Ionic" one guessed, while another suggested this was "An Alcatraz around the neck of the city." While police were friendly to Menino, few if any firefighters gave him the time of day, even the ones who weren't busy. Had to wonder if this was blowback from the contract dispute. Credit to Menino for showing up though.

Indeed a ninth alarm in Boston brings help from FD's in Brookline, Cambridge, Quincy, Needham, Newton, Somerville, Chelsea, Dedham, Winthrop, Cambridge, Everett, Milton, Watertown, Malden, Revere, Waltham and Braintree, at least. It was col to hear Waltham Engine-2 taking calls in the city of Boston. Thankfully, no serious injuries at the fire.

Jones' photos remind me that, focused on the task at hand, Boston's firefighters do a damn fine job. I'm particularly impressed with Chief Pettaway's decision to pull his crew out at the appropriate time.